Axle-lubricator



(No Model.)

J. MULLIGAN.

AXLE LUBRIGATOR.

No. 400,300. 7 PatentedJan. 24,1893.

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JOHN MULLIGAN, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

AXLE-LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. $90,300, dated January24;, 1893.

Application filed May 11, 1892- Serial No. 432,688- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JOHN MULLIGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at the S01- diers Home, in the county of Montgomery and Stateof Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement to the Self-OilingW'heel (Patent No. 436,376) of which I am the inventor, and thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to useful improvements in axle-boxing, and moreparticularly to axle-lubricating boxes.

The object of said improvements is to furnish an axle-box susceptible ofapracticable, therefore general use, in connection with any manner ofhub,-either of wood or iron; in the latter application it is adapted touse on tram cars, in mining regions; in the former, it is adapted to useon road vehicle wheels of all kinds.

To suit my improved axle-box to any of the various uses that it maybeapplied, but slight modifications in the external configurations, arerequired, and which may be made without departing from the essentialfeatures of my invention.

Chiefly, my improvements consist of means for introducing a lubricatingsubstance to the spindle of an axle, through an exterior inlet that isalways in the same accessible position, regardless of the turn of thewheel or the position of the hub. In order to have the inlet in aconvenient position,for the introduction of the lubricant, to thechannels leading to the chambers or reservoirs, I have located it on ahorizontal plane with the axis of the spindle, thereby obviating thenecessity of having an undesirable projection extending beyond the outerperiphery of the box or hub, 01' of detaching any of the caps when itbecomes necessary to charge the oil chambers.

Proceeding now to a minute description, attention is directed to thedrawings forming a supplement to the specification, on which will befound the same letters and figures referring to corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

Figure l, is a longitudinal section of the box with the spindle incasedtherein. Fig. 2 an end view, full size, of the box, with the screw-cap,nut washer, and spindle detached. Fig. 3, a plan view, full size, of thenutwasher,

detached. Fig. 4, a plan view full size, of the screw-cap, detached.

The letter A, represents the box, the inner end constructed with ashoulder (a) projecting inwardly from the interior surface thereof, andscrew-threaded, anda flange (of) extending around the outer surface ofsaid box. This end of the box is also provided with the well knownfeatures common to all devices of this character, therefore not shown inthe drawings; the outer end of the box is provided with internal andexternal screwthreads, and a detachable screw-threaded flange (c).

B, represents an internally and externally threaded detachable shoulderengaging with similar threads on the interior of the box, and forming aninterior shoulder in this end of said box, similar in extent and form,to the shoulder (a); this shoulder has an annular channel or groove (1))on the outer front end, from which extend a series of horizontal passageways or conduits 1, 2, 3, 4. This shoulder may or may not be madeintegral with the box, the drawings show it as detachable, but I do notdesire to limit myself to this separate construction. This coinpletesadescription of the box or outer casing.

C, is an inner tube, provided with openings 5, and 6, in the oppositesides thereof, and screw-threads on both ends, which are adapted,respectively, to engage with the screwthrcads of the interior shoulder(a) and shoulder B, this tube has a flange (e) abutting against theshoulder (a). By the conjunction of the said shoulders and the tube, anoil chamber or reservoir E, is formed by the inclosed space between theouter surface of the tube and the inner surface of the box, and theshoulders.

An axle spindle D, with a flange (d) abut-- ting against flange (e) ofthe inner tube. A screw cap F, having means for detaching it, inclosesthis end of the box; at the outer end of the box, a nut-washer G, isdesigned to engage with the threads on the outer end of the spindle D,and be tightened against the end of the box. This nut-washer is providedwith a series of apertures 7, 8, 9, 10, corresponding to thepassage-ways or conduits in the shoulder B, and which, when the washeris secured against the box as just described, open into the annularchannel in the shoulder B; finally, I-I, represents a screw cap designedto inclose this end of the box and afford means for introducing oilthere-through; this cap is provided with a hexagon-shaped extension onthe outer end, cupped out in a manner forming a concaved surface(h)through the center of this cap an aperture 11, extends which isopened or closed by means of a nut (i) and through this opening thelubricant is fed, to what may be termed, the primary chamber (3'). Inthe application of the box to tram cars, or other iron hubs, it would benecessary to provide means for unscrewing the cap H, on the outerperiphery thereof, thus dispensing with the hexagon extension on theend, but the central aperture 11, would remain as herein described. Thiscompletes a perfect dust-proof, and otherwise practical axlelubricator.The head of the nut (2') need not project beyond the surface of the cap,therefore it will be protected from breaking or accidental loosening bycoming in contact with anything that would lead to these results.

From the foregoing description, the manner of carrying out the objectsof the invention is apparent,but briefly stated,the lubricant isintroduced through the aperture 11, to the primary chamber (j) thencethrough the apertures 7, 8, 9, 10, and passage ways or conduits 1, 2, 3,4, to the secondary chamber E, thence through openings 5, and 6, in theinner tube 0, to the spindle D.

It has been found by experience that an inner tube provided with theseoutlets is most satisfactory, and supplies the spindle with allnecessary lubricant.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters- Patent is,

1. In an axle-lubricator, the combination with the box and the shouldersC6 and B, the latter provided with the annular channel 1), in the outerend thereof, and horizontal lougitudinal passage-ways extending fromsaid channel, of the nut-washer G, provided with apertures registeringwith the passage-ways in said shoulder, and a screw cap provided with acentral opening, said screw cap adapted to inclose the outer end of thebox, thereby forming the primary oil chamber j, and an inner tubeprovided with openings 5 and 6, said tube adapted to engage at both endswith the interior shoulders at and B, and thereby form the secondary oilchamber E, substantially as herein described.

2. In an axle-lubricator, the combination with the spindle, of a boxprovided with an interior shoulder at its inner end and the interiorshoulder B at its outer end, the latter shoulder provided with theannular channel I), and passage-ways or conduits extendinglongitudinally from said channel, and the nut-washer G provided withapertures registering with the passage-ways in the shoulder B, an innertube provided with openings 5 and 6, said tube adapted to engage withthe shoulders of thebox and thereby form the secondary oil chamber E,between the inner surface of the box and the outer surface of the tube,the screw cap provided with a central opening, and the concave surfaceh, said screw cap adapted to inclose the outer end of the box therebyforming the primary oil chamberj, between the outer surface of the nutwasher and the inner surface of the cap, substantially as hereindescribed.

3. An axle boxing consisting of the outer casing A provided withinterior screw threaded shoulders or and B, the latter shoulder providedwith the annular channel bin the outer end thereof, and the longitudinalpassageways 1 2 3 4 leading from said channel, the

' inner tube with openings 5 and 6 and flange e, said tube secured inthe outer casing by its screw threaded ends engaging with the shouldersof the casing, whereby the secondary oil chamber E is formed between thetube and the casing, the nut washer G provided with aperturesregistering with the passage-ways in shoulder B, said nut washer adaptedto engage with the spindle and maintain the same within the box, a screwcap adapted to inclose the outer end of the box, and form the primaryoil chamber j, said screw cap provided with a nut-closing centralopening through which the oil is conveyed to the primary chamber fromwhence it is conveyed to the secondary oil chamber through the hereindescribed passage-ways, as set forth.

4. The combination with the outer casing provided with an interior screwthreaded shoulder at its inner end, and the screw threaded shoulder B,at its outer end, the latter provided with the annular channel I), andhorizontal longitudinal passage-Ways or con duits extending from saidchannel, the nut washer provided with apertures registering with thepassage-ways in said shoulder B, when said nut washer is engaged withthe spindle, the screw cap H, with central opening, adapted to inclosethe outer end of the box and thereby form the primary oil chamberj, thetube 0 with flange e at its inner extremity and screw threads on theends thereof, to engage with the shoulders of the outer casing, wherebythe secondary chamber E is formed, and the openings 5 and 6in said tubethrough which the oil is conveyed from said secondary chamber to thespindle, substantially as herein described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MULLIGAN.

Witnesses:

S. F. HARVEY, RUFUS CONGROVE.

